Opponents of the code refresh, an effort to rewrite Richmond's decades-old zoning laws, are taking their battle to the public.

Longtime Virginia political figure Paul Goldman filed Monday in Richmond Circuit Court, seeking to change the city's charter to require major rezoning efforts be put in front of voters.

His filing would also allow the city to institute rent control measures, though it would not mandate that they be used.

Here's what you need to know about the initiative:

Legal implications

Under Virginia law, Richmond voters cannnot directly change the city charter. Only the General Assembly has the authority to do that.

So while the initiative would not immediately change the law on passage, it would provide an opportunity for citizens to voice their opinion on a key issue shaping the city's future.

READ MORE: Richmonder coverage of code refresh

The Richmonder has provided extensive coverage of the effort to rewrite the city’s zoning code. Read some of our past stories here: Project overview: THE NEXT 50 YEARS: Richmond’s zoning overhaul envisions a denser city. What will that look like?Leaders of the effort say density will mean

The RichmonderSarah Vogelsong

Timing

Goldman's filing seeks to put his measure on the ballot in November 2027, more than a year from now.

While that allows him time to gather signatures and run a messaging campaign, city officials have previously indicated they hope to wrap up the code refresh process by the end of this year.

As Richmond’s rezoning begins to solidify, a proposal to allow more duplexes may be on shaky ground

As might have been expected, Richmond City Council’s first public meeting on the proposed citywide rezoning was a freewheeling affair.

The RichmonderSarah Vogelsong

Signatures

For a petition to make it on the ballot, it must receive signatures from 10% of the number of voters who participated in the highest-turnout election over the last five years.

In the 2024 presidential race, 109,290 Richmonders voted, meaning Goldman would need 10,929 valid signatures.

In an email, he said the number he is going for is 16,000, because all signatures must be verified, and any duplicates or county residents are thrown out.

Cost

Goldman expects the signature gathering to cost about $50,000, money he said he believes he will be able to raise.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated.